Clinical Use of Plethysmography in the Diagnosis of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Arterial Occlusive Disease: Part 1

Abstract

This two-part study deals with the clinical use of an ECG-triggered venous occlusion plethysmograph, the "Periflow." This first part describes procedures for arterial and for venous examination. Methodologrc and technological im provement over former VOP devices is indicated. And results of investigation on arterial pathology in 99 patients versus 76 normal subjects are evaluated. (Venous pathology will be treated in a second paper.)

From this study it can be concluded that most significant information about arterial status is obtained by analyzing the time-related course of a reactive hy peremia that has to clear off an experimentally induced arterial debt. The relia bility of the qualitative diagnostic differentiation and of the quantitative assess ment is determined by the proposed parameter handling in order to judge the method's suitability for objective diagnosis and follow-up of patients with pe ripheral vascular diseases.